ISRAEL'S PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1

Recently I wrote that President Barack Obama was on the verge of becoming Israel’s Public Enemy No. 1. First he insists that Israel must stop all construction for natural growth in long established settlements. Now his administration "demands" that Israel not build any new Jewish housing in East Jerusalem because that part of the city is what the Palestinians want for their capital.

But in order to become public enemy no. 1, Obama has to push former President Jimmy Carter out of that lofty position. When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the establishment of a Palestinian state existing alongside a Jewish state, Jimmy Carter piped in by denouncing the concept of a "Jewish state."

Here is how the Simon Wiesenthal Center recounts the reaction to the speech Netanyahu gave in response to Obama’s Muslim embracing Cairo speech:

"It is increasingly clear that nothing will deter the enemies of a strong Israel. They are hard at work honing their newest tactic: CHALLENGING ISRAEL’S FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO EXIST AS A JEWISH STATE. It’s an insidious campaign that …… in the last few weeks, there have been a number of alarming developments that should have all friends of Israel deeply concerned.

The chorus is growing ever-louder, calling for Israel to do what no other country has ever been asked to do – PLACE ITS VERY IDENTITY AND CORE VALUES ON THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

[Netanyahu's] words reflected Israel’s deep commitment to seeking a permanent end to the conflict – which will include the establishment of a Palestinian state – after the Palestinian leadership signals its people that it is finally time for a real peace.

But instead of lauding Netanyahu’s initiative, former President Carter, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and top Palestinian leaders declared NETANYAHU’S SPEECH HAD RUINED THE CHANCES FOR AN ACCORD!

Carter cited several ‘hurdles’ to peace in the speech, saying, ‘[Netanyahu) demands that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state even though 20% of Israel’s citizens are not Jews.’ And Mubarak declared that ‘the prime minister of Israel’s call to the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state thwarts the chances for peace.’

Palestinian Authority negotiations department head Saeb Erekat stated that ‘NOT IN A THOUSAND YEARS’ would the Palestinians agree to Israeli conditions. And Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman for the PA president declared, ‘The speech has destroyed all peace initiatives and [chances for] a solution.’

And an editorial in the Palestinian daily newspaper stated, ‘Netanyahu spat in the face of all those who counted on Obama’s magic wand to swallow the serpents of the settlements and to make Netanyahu change his skin and recognize the two state [solution].’

Hamas also issued a statement calling the demand to recognize a Jewish state a ‘racist position.’ And a senior Hamas official declared, ‘This speech proves that resistance is the only way for the Palestinian people to attain its legitimate rights.’

……The current challenges to Israel are many-faceted. Indeed, former President Carter used his recent visit to the region to bestow a measure of legitimacy on the Hamas government by meeting with its leaders – despite the fact that Hamas is still considered an official terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union. Carter is even going so far as to lobby the Obama administration to reward Hamas by removing it from the terrorist list.

This dangerous double-standard of befriending and accepting terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hizbollah while condemning democratic Israel serves only one goal – delegitimizing and isolating Israel in the international community, thus endangering her citizens and supporters worldwide."

I don’t know why Carter has taken such virulent anti-Israel and anti-Jewish positions. However, it has become very clear to me that President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are intent on bringing down Netanyahu's fragile government coalition, believing he will be replaced by a dovish leader like Tzipi Livni of the Kadima party.

Friends do not make "demands" of a sovereign nation, only enemies do. As I’ve said before, with friends like Obama and Carter, Israel doesn’t need any enemies.